Now a Malayalam film on 'real' Silk Smitha

Kochi: The Dirty Picture may have been one of the most popular Hindi films of 2011 but it appears not everyone is convinced that it was an authentic biopic on Silk Smitha's life. It is the argument of those pushing for a 'real' take on Silk Smitha that all was not 'Dirty' about the actor and that there were many critical aspects of her life that were ignored in Milan Luthria's effort. That is why the Malayalam film industry is coming up with its own film based on the life of Vijayalakshmi aka Silk Smitha.

The film, tentatively titled 'Profile', portraying the life of an actress who - with her sensuous, dusky face and titillating dancing - ruled over the South Indian film industry for nearly 17 years, is all set to go on floors by early June.

"'Profile' is based on the life of Silk Smitha. Antony Eastman, who introduced Smitha to the Malayalam industry through the movie 'Inaye Thedi', has penned the story. Veteran script-writer Kaloor Dennis, who etched out more than 15 characters for her, will write the screenplay for the movie to be directed by Anil (of the Anil Babu team)," a source close to the production team said.

However, Kaloor Dennis refused to divulge any details regarding the characters in the script. "I have completed the scripting of a movie based on the life of an actress. But I cannot disclose the details now," he said.

The makers are trying to rope in Richa Gangopadhyay ('Osthi', 'Mayakkam Enna' fame) to do the role of Smitha in the film, it is reliably learnt.

"'Dirty Picture' didn't portray Smitha's real life and was made without any proper understanding of the way South Indian film industry works. If the new venture can narrate the conflicts that Smitha encountered during her life, it would be a worthy movie experience," said noted film critic CS Venkiteswaran.